Police Incident Reports A Selection of Noteworthy Incident Reports

Incidents listed are selected by the Officer In Charge of each shift that may have significant public interest.
Incidents listed are not inclusive of all incidents. To view Calls for Services information, please visit CrimeReports.com. Requests for information can be directed to the MPD Records Unit: (608) 266-4075.

Incident Report for Case #2014-30424

Incident Type

Theft

Incident Date

01/30/2014 - 8:30 AM

Address

312 Wisconsin Ave. (Bethel Lutheran Church)

Arrested

Terrance L. Thomas, age 37, no permanent addressSuspect was arrested for Theft and on an outstanding warrant out of Milwaukee County.

Victim(s)

Female, age 30, no permanent address

Details

When police arrived, the 30-year old homeless woman was in tears. She had come to Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave., to get some breakfast. What should have been a good part of her Thursday turned tragic when a man grabbed her purse, removed her money, and fled. She doesn't currently have a job. That money meant a lot to her, and she was devastated. Responding officers had two key things going for them: the church has a surveillance video system, and the thief was wearing a distinctive cap. It was knit with red and white alternating "latitudinal stripes," wrote the lead investigating officer in his report. The description went out to other officers and to some of the MPD's community partners, including those at the Madison Public Library, 201 W. Mifflin St.

Around 2:25 p.m. a call came in from a library staff member. A man wearing a hat matching that which was described had come into the library. He tried to make a run for it, but officers were able to corral him. He had some money, but not all that had been taken.

It turned out the suspect had just arrived in Madison by way of Milwaukee, where he is wanted on a probation violation warrant. Court records show he has a number of past criminal convictions - in Milwaukee County - including burglary and armed robbery. A Madison theft has now been added to his criminal repertoire.